Ham radio isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle for passionate people who love to be part of a like-minded community. Even if you’re not a ham radio enthusiast yourself, you can still pick out a great gift for the amateur radio lover in your life!
- An Amateur Radio
- The AARL Ham Radio License Manual
- Arduino for Ham Radio
- Morse Code Operating for Amateur Radio
- Ham Radio Operator Cap
- Ham Radio World Map
- Ham Radio Operator Parking Sign
There are lots of great gift ideas out there for ham radio enthusiasts, and the rest of this article will dive into each of these gifts and help you find the right one.
How to Find the Best Gift
There’s no one perfect gift for every ham radio enthusiast, but you can do some sleuthing to give yourself an idea of what they might like.
Check their Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook page to see if they’re following any particular brand or channel that could indicate what they like.
You might also consider asking their ham radio friends who are also passionate about the hobby to help you find the right gift and make sure you’re not doubling down on something they already have. Your friends might also be willing to go in with you on a bigger gift if it’s what the giftee wants.
The Best Ham Radio Gifts
An Amateur Radio
The best gift to get someone who is undecided on where to get started in ham radio is an amateur radio setup.
Of course, this is a gift idea that’s best accomplished with the help of some accomplices. If you have friends in the ham radio community, consult them on what you should get.
It might also be worth asking your giftee directly what they want in an amateur radio setup if you’re getting them a piece of equipment; it’s better to sacrifice the element of surprise to ensure you get exactly what they need to explore the wonderful world of ham radio!
The AARL Ham Radio License Manual
It’s not the most glamorous gift, but any amateur radio enthusiast will tell you that this book is a great option for anyone trying to get started in ham radio. It has simple, straightforward sections to help your gift recipient gear towards becoming a full-fledged operator.
Arduino for Ham Radio
In a similar vein, for a ham radio operator enthusiastic about microcontroller projects, Arduino for Ham Radio has lots of open-source electronics and microcontroller projects that they can get started with.
The Arduino community is a great place to be, making inexpensive microcontrollers and amateur station gear. It’s definitely a resource your gift recipient will appreciate.
Morse Code Operating for Amateur Radio
Another great book for someone looking to expand their ham radio skillset is Morse Code Operating for Amateur Radio. Being part of the Morse code community is amazing, and it’s a fun skill for ham operators to learn.
Ham Radio Operator Cap
If you’re shopping for the operator who has everything, then a Ham Radio Operator Cap might be the perfect choice. This great item is perfect for your giftee to let the world know about their passions.
Ham Radio World Map
Another great gift option is a prefix map, kept up to date by expert ham operators! It’s a useful tool and a great wall decoration for the tinkerer in your life.
Ham Radio Operator Parking Sign
This is a great funny sign that reads “Ham radio operator parking only: Violators will banned from the airways.” Whether you’re getting this as a Father’s Day gift or a birthday, the ham radio operator in your life will love this little outward symbol of their hobby.
Final Thoughts
There are lots of great gifts out there for the ham radio enthusiast in your life. Even if you don’t understand the hobby well, you can still pick out an amazing and useful gift for a loved one using this helpful list.
From a practical guide to becoming a ham radio operator to a humorous sign that reflects their interests, if there’s someone in your life who lives and breathes ham radio, these gifts are sure to make their face light up!
